Registration dates, new format and 1st class announcements!

So today is the day my friends. We are organised. Classes are locked down, teachers are locked in and we have dates for registration! Pretty exciting for us and I hope for you too.

Rather than giving it all to you in one go I'm going to release information over the next few days to give you some time to think about it before we launch registration next week - more details about that at the bottom of this post!

So where to start....maybe some classes? The full workshop list will be up on the web on Friday, along with some new teacher announcments, so today I am just going to give you a bit of a taster. 

We are very lucky to have many of our teachers from last year joining us again - the feedback we got about them was just so good, and we had more we wanted them to do. So with the exception of two classes (Embroidery from the Natural World and Block Printing) we have all new classes.

I did wonder whether it was going to be possible to beat what we put together last year. I loved the workshops we ran. But, I really really think we have topped it. My class-idea-tester friend Jenn did the "and I would do that one", "and I'm going to do that one", "and that one", "oh oh oh and I really want to do that one"...."and I might try that"....

Ever done a "steek"?

I'm going to start with Julia from Woollen Flower - those of you that have had Jules as a teacher know just how well prepared and organised her classes are. And man is she clever. And lovely and ever so encouraging.

So this year she is going to be running three new classes. A dyeing class which is a full day where you have a single dyepot and get 25 colours out of it. That is right - 25 Colours From One Pot. This extended dyeing class will allow you to really get into the process under Jules' expert guidance. This will be a very fun day.

I also asked Jules to redesign one of her classes from last year (because it was just so popular) but in a different half-day format. So Knitting - Colourwork is now a half day class. She is designing a special 10ply colourwork hat pattern for those of you that want to try colourwork. 

The redesigning of colourwork was so we could fit other things in - Julia's other half-day class will be on Steeking. For those of you that don't know what this is - it is the process of cutting your knitting to make a jumper into a cardigan or for armholes or a neck after knitting in the round. There will be a better description in the workshop page on Friday, but if you are a curious kind of knitter and haven't yet gone to the knitting extreme's of steeking then this is the class for you. I have done it once many years ago, and I can't tell you how much fun it is. To knit a jumper and then pick up your scissors and start cutting into it - well it is one of the biggest fibre thrills around. Can't beat it.

Freedom patchwork - I'm so loving the name Melissa gave this class.

So the lovely Melissa from Tiny Happy is joining us again from New Zealand, with her wonderful Embroidery from the Natural World class. The photos from this class, and the feeling in the class for that matter are one of my favourite things from last year's event. The results were just so varied and so very very pretty.

Her second class I love - Freedom Patchwork. It will be a day for exploration - of colour, form and shape - starting with a classic star. We are going to be bringing it back to the basics and then expanding on them. This class if for beginners who want to try to put together their first quilt block but also for those of you that love to patch in a group environment. And you will come out with either a cushion cover or a set of quilt blocks. Up to you!

Next up we have the lovely Leslie from Maze and Vale - have a look at her new website. Super pretty. Her block printing class last year was so popular we are putting it on again for those who missed out. But then we are taking it a step further. 

We have a second half-day block printing class that is specifically about how to create a repeat of your print. Leslie will lead you through the process of making a repeat fabric design and you will come away with fat quarter samples of each different type of pattern. Whether you did the Block Printing class last year or you plan on doing it this year - the second course will extend your skills way beyond simple block prints.

Leslie's final class is one I asked her to do after seeing a tote she had made on her blog. You will be making a beautiful foldover tote bag using Leslie's pattern, with an internal pocket and leather strap. If you are a bit unsure of your sewing skills or simply a bit rusty then this is the workshop for you. Or if you want to know how to work with leather or you just want to make a beautiful bag. Bring a beautiful fabric of your choosing and make something you will wear everyday. 

So .....I think I have talked about three of them. Maybe one more for today?

Sev[en] Circle Neckpiece by Kirsten Johnstone

OK. So what about we talk about knitting superstar Kirsten Johnstone. Kirsten will be taking two classes for us this year. A full-day relaxing and enjoyable, technical knitting class where we will be making a seamless hat, working with a new pattern she is designing for the class. The workshop will cover skills such as seamless knitting, provisional cast-ons, i-cord bindoff (one of my favourite finishes) and shaping the crown of a hat. If you are an advanced beginner and know how to knit and purl, cast on and off but are wanting to extend your skills a bit further then this is for you. 

And the second class she is running for us uses her Sev(en) Circle neckpiece as a basis. This wildly popular pattern will see you create a neckpiece, or bracelet using your own special yarns, colours and ideas. Under Kirsten's guidance you will learn some technical knitting skills while creating something unique and very wearable. We can't wait to see what you come up with.

Format change - more time!

At the end of last year's event we asked everyone who came, how long they thought the event should be - and the resounding majority wanted more time. More time to be in the space. More time to relax and more time to spend with their new friends. 

Around half of the people who came last year, came by themselves - and the resounding feedback was that wasn't at all how it felt. It was such a friendly group that it felt like people already knew one another. 

So we have made a change. This year we will be starting at 2.00pm on the Friday afternoon. After afternoon tea, we will have our first workshop on the Friday afternoon and the second on the Saturday morning. This enables us to have all of Saturday afternoon free for relaxing in the beautiful surrounds of the Yarra Valley, crafting and spending time with friends, new and old. We have arranged activities - bonus workshops and yoga - if you are the kind of person who likes doing stuff. But if you want to do some relaxing, the time and space are now there. Sunday will consist of a full day of workshops before we say our goodbyes at a late afternoon tea. 

Registration Information

Registration is an all inclusive package that includes

• Two nights accommodation in the stunning Yarra Valley
• Two full days of workshops (over 2.5 days) with our very talented and super encouraging teachers
• All meals including a delicious organic afternoon tea each day
• Morning yoga on Saturday and Sunday 
• Free time on the Saturday afternoon to spend time with your new friends relaxing and crafting in the beautiful environment OR partake in activities including optional extra workshops or restorative yoga
• A gorgeous arrival and departure gift

Registration will open on April 2nd at 5pm through the registration page on our website. 

Lots more to tell you later on this week. We have four more teachers to tell you about including some new (super talented!) teachers and many many more classes.  The full workshop list including descriptions and photos will be up later on this week, as will the workshop schedule. So keep popping into the blog....

Sound good so far?

Felicia x